How to use Linux in windows 10 or windows 11 Operating System

Very few of us know that we can use Linux in the Windows Operating system. To use Linux in Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can take advantage of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL allows you to run a Linux distribution alongside your Windows operating system, providing you with a full Linux terminal and access to a wide range of Linux tools and utilities.

Here's a step-by-step guide to installing and using Ubuntu in Windows 10 or Windows 11:

1. Enable WSL:

   • For Windows 10: Go to "Control Panel" > "Programs" > "Turn Windows features on or off," and then enable "Windows Subsystem for Linux."
   • For Windows 11: Press the "Win + R" keys to open the Run dialog, type "optionalfeatures," and hit Enter. Then, enable "Windows Subsystem for Linux."

2. Install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store:

   • Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows system.
   • Search for "Ubuntu" and select the official Ubuntu distribution.
   • Click the "Install" button to download and install Ubuntu.

3. Launch Ubuntu:

   • Once Ubuntu is installed, you can launch it from the Start menu or by searching for "Ubuntu."

4. Set up Ubuntu:

   • The first time you launch Ubuntu, it will go through a one-time setup process. It will ask you to create a username and password for your Ubuntu installation.

5. Start using Ubuntu:

   • Now you have a fully functional Ubuntu terminal running within your Windows environment. You can use all the standard Linux commands and do most of the tasks you'd do in a regular Linux environment.

       Author- Dr. Amar Nath Pandey, Coordinator, School of Computer Science, Nalanda Open University, Patna 

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